Usefulness of clinical ultrasound in the perioperative Period

Abstract

 

Introduction: Clinical ultrasound consists in using real-time ultrasound taken from the patient to aid in diagnosis, guide therapeutic interventions, as well as observe treatment and organ function monitoring.

Purpose: To provide current anesthesiologists and resident anesthesiologists with some brief information about the usefulness and importance of clinical ultrasound in perioperative settings.

Results: The acquisition of clinical ultrasound images by anesthesiologists involves the assessment of multiple organs in different perioperative situations. It can be used to improve clinical decision making in a variety of perioperative circumstances due to its capacity for assessing endotracheal tube placement, as well as cardiac and pulmonary functions, aspiration risk, hemodynamics, vascular access, and nerve visualization for regional procedures.

Conclusions: The importance of clinical ultrasound in perioperative settings, its increasing accessibility and its associated low risks have been used in many anesthesiology residence programs to increase the focus on perioperative ultrasound training.